Fast hitch for 3-point hitch



Jan. 20, 1959 G51.. HERsHMAN FAST HITCH FOR s-PoINT HITCH Filed oct. 5,195e Jan. 20, 1959 G. L, HER'SHMAN y, 2,869,654

' FAST HITCH FOR 5-Po1NT HITCH Filed oct. 5, 195e y s sneets-sheet sUnite States This invention relates toI implement. attachingapparatus'iforitractors and particularly `to hitch means by whichanirhplernentfcanbe connected to a tractor quickly and with minimum ofmanual ettort. Connecting an implement to a tractor by hitch means o fthefvvell` known 3,-point type not only normally requiresm'a number oftime-consuming manual operations onthe partof-the tractor operator, butalso requires that he'rnke the attachment from a disrnounted position onthe ground. The present invention, therefore, has for itslobjectvot` theprovision of improved 'attaching apparatus forlquickly and easilyconnecting an implement to atracter.` i

Another objectoi:` the invention is the provision of quick-attachingmeansfor connecting an implement to atractor utilizing the' well known3` point system, wherein av minimum number of'manual operations arerequired and snchmanual operations as are" required `can be performedfrom the tractor scat.

A tractor hitchof the `3 pointwtype includes laterally spacndlowerlinksand an upper link attached at three points to the` tractorand to theimplement by pivotal connecting means `usually of the ball-and-sockettype,` and one ofvthe objects of the invention is'the provision ofquick'attaching means for a tractor" 3-p`oint hitch by whiclilthe threeconnections of the tractor tothe implement are'made easilyfan-d at leastthe lower two con-A nections are made Simply by backing the tractor to'the implement and adjusting the position of the hitch meansby'i'nanipulating a hydraulic lift apparatus on the tractor.

Other objectsand` advantages of the invention will becomeclear fromthe'following detailed description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

lFigure 1 is a viewmin side elevation of the rear end .of

arti-actor,l with4 one wheel removed, illustrating the implementattaching apparatus of this invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevationof theV structure shown in` Figure 1; withparts removed;

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of the hook on the rear'end of theupper llink of the 3-point hitch system; Figure 4f is an enlarged detailof one of the lower link hook-and-latch means showing the position ofthe parts at the time the connection is made tothe implement, but beforethe parts are locked together; i

Figure Sis a view similar to Figure 4 showing the hitch elements on theimplement in place in the Vrecess or hook of one of the lower links ofthe tractor hitch structure also before the parts arelocked together;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

In the drawings 'the numeral 10 designates the body of a tractor havinglaterally spaced rear drive Wheels 11, onlyone of which is'shown. A pairof brackets 'lZareA secured to opposite side of the tractor body andeach has Q70 an extension 13 to which is atiixed one end of a stub shaftMhaving a ball portion f5. L

arent tmthm.. f2. sie

Each of the ball portions 15 constitutes a segment gf. aI ball and isreceived in a socket 16 at'theforwardl of'one ofthe"lowerliriksL 1 7 ofa 3-point hitch system or' implement attaching structure for a tractorincluding anl upper link 1 8. The laterally spaced lower linksY aresiibstantial duplicates and a description of` one'will; suffice forboth. rIhe ball` and socket connections', 15 accommodatesubstantiallyuniversal pivotal movement of the links 17, and the rear end of eachlink is provided` with a' U-shaped section 19 between therear ends.A bf'which is s ecureda connection element or hook portion; 2Q havihgjaforwadly entering recess 21 therein having'l) a concave inner surfaceconforming to the contnr. of a hitch element 22 in the form of a ballVsegmenhlonerof: which isprovided at each end of a transverselyextending,barvZBfo-rming aA part of tlie frame of an implernentLZtY which; for'example'maybe afmoldboard plow,H

Stability is imparted to the connection ofthe. implemerit 24]]to thetractor by the provision of the upper linie 1S, "in u'theforirifoflapair, of threaded rods 25 and received in athcaded turnbuckle27. The 'forward' rod.l section 26 is provided with aneye 28 in whichisreceived al pivotpin 29 mounted in"a bracket'30 aixed to the. tractorbody. rl`he rear section 25 of upper link 1S` terminates inra hook` 31also contoured to receiveV for` universal pivoting mdvementfa ballsection 32, mountedf at the upper endet standard forming a part of the`fr arneof the' implement 24,` r i i making the cbnnectionuofltheimplement 24.` to theI tractory hitch structue e'achffof theA links`1fi"can be .adjustedyertically about the, axis of tnest'ubshaft 14 'togarpositionto facilitaterec'eiptof implementhitch elementVlr 22 infthehookfZQ, bymeansfincluding hydaulic cylr der Sirmnunted on thetractorbody byfanysuitablernearisand ving'a pistonfrodf35`slidabletherein;connectedtq; artnr' 6;1 mounted on aI transversely extending:rock;` shaft 37 also mounted on hthe tractor body. i

The cylinderfandtpiston unitB-i, 35 .andzarmarm preferablyhbused"within` the ytractor fluid` supplied to the'cylinder from asource ofuid nnd r.` pressure, not shownf'on thetractor throughhoseflineslf 38. A pair of lift arms 39 are secured to Veachend of 1'the rock shaft 37 and these arms are pivotally connected to the upperends oflift links Viiand 41, each ofwhich' VThe hnok'llfof upper link 18aswshown in Fignre is provided,v/ithanopening43 in whl'lchisslidablea:ball 44 pressed outwardlyby` a spring` 45 intoV engage?| ment withl-thelmember 32 to hold memberiz in hnokffal i It might benoted'tliat upperlink 1Sis adjustable manipulation of tiirnbuckle 27 Ato,shortenorllengthef the link and adjust the implementabouttransversefanes; representedfby the shaft 23 to regulate .themieratling; dph-.f .y y

orderlto facilitate connection,thereottogthe implement: aswell astofraise and lower the latter.. v v

Tofacilitate lconnection of the implement to the tractor:V and tolockthe parts together when the connectionlisl. made,` Yalatch member `lin.is pivotally.nioantedrinthe; bifurcated sectiontbf of ,each of thedraft. links 17 .uporn a shaft-47 secnred `to the member 45,l by anyksuitablea means such asthe pin 48. The inner end of .shazftdl is` .r

bent downwardly to provide an arm dthelnwer Yend of:` whichisconnectedbya spring Sti toa peg Srl-projecting" from the sideyofthe end piece19. n

ictuationof` the cylinder and piston Aunit 34, BnSlswings;tv theli'ftarms yerti'catly tofadjust the .draft-links 17 in@Lt Spring 50normally biases latch member 46 to the position shown in Figures 1 and4. In this position, with the implement 24 assumed to be detached fromand ready to be connected to the tractor, the tracto-r is backed towardthe implement. The tractor operator actuates his hydraulic liftingmechanism to adjust the height-of the rear ends of draft links 17 withrespect to the height of hitch element 22 on the implement above theground. With particular reference to Figures 1 and 4, it will be notedthat latch member 46 has a rearwardly entrant recess or socket 52therein which is disposed vertically above the recess 21 in hook 2i). Inbacking the tractor toward the implement the operator guides the draftlinks 17 until each of the hitch elements 22 of the implement isreceived in the appropriate recess 52 in the latch member 46, theforward wall of the recess 52 forming an abutment engaging and limitingthe movement of the tractor with respect to the implement. The operatorthen grasps upper link 18 and snaps hook 31 over the implement attachingelement 32. l

' The recesses 52 are llared to facilitate guiding the hitch elements 22thereinto, and when these hitch elements are received in the appropriaterecesses 52 the operator actuates the lifting apparatus on the tractorto raise the draft links 17. The weight of the implement holds the latchmember 46 down so that the hook portion 20 of the draft link risesrelative thereto to a registering position of recesses 21 and 52 asshown in Figure 5. With the recesses in communication, the operatoradvances the vehicle until the hitch elements 22 are pulled rearwardlyto the recesses 21 of the draft links into draft-receiving relation withthe tractor.

From the position of Figure 5, with the recesses 21 and 52 incommunication but with the hitch element 22 received in the recess 21,the weight of the implement having been removed from the latch member46, spring 50 biases the latter upwardly to the position of Figure 1with the recess 52 vertically above the recess 21. In this position, thehitch element 22 is engaged by the curved rear surface of a downwardlyprojecting extension 53 on the latch member 46 belo-w recess 52, whichblocks the entrance to recess 21 and locks the hitch elements 22therein. The rear edge of the extension 53 is on an arc about the axisof shaft 47 as a center. A lip 54 at the lower end of projection 53extends through an opening S5 in hook 20 and engages the edge thereofserving as a stop to limit the upward swinging of the latch member 46.

To disconnect the implement from the tractor the operator pulls hook 31from the upper implement attaching element 32 to release the upper link18 and also pulls a pair of cables 56 connected at their upper ends to aclip 57 anchored to the bracket 34D and connected at their lower ends tothe arms 49 to rock the latch members 46 downwardly until recess 52 isin communication with recess 21. The tractor may then be backed slightlyuntil the elements 22 are received in the recesses 52 whereupon draftlinks 17 may be lowered and the tractor driven away from the implement.

Lateral stabilizing means to limit the lateral swinging of the links 17and 18 and of the implement are provided in the form of chains 58connected at one end to clips 59 secured to the tractor body centrallythereof and at the other end to clips 60 attached to the draft link 17.

The construction and operation of the novel implement attachingapparatus of this invention should be clearly understood from theforego-ing description. It should likewise be understood that theinvention has been described in its preferred embodiment only and thatmodicatons may be made in theinvention without departing from the spiritthereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An implement attaching apparatus for a tractor including a draft linkpivotally connected to the tractor and extending rearwardly therefromand lift means connected to said link for vertically moving the latterto selected positions, said link having a forwardly opening recesstherein adapted to receive a hitch element on the implement fortransmitting draft thereto, a member pivoted on said draft link having arearwardly opening recess therein above the recess in said link in thenormal operating position of said member and terminating in an abuttingwall engageable by said element upon backing the tracto-r to theimplement, saidmember being swingable downwardly relative to said linkto a position with said recesses in substantially horizontal alignmentand in communication whereby said element is shifted to the recess inthe draft link upon forward movement of the tractor, and means biasingsaid member to return to its normal operating position. v

2. An implement attaching apparatus for a tractor including a draft linkpivotally connected to the tractor and extending rearwardly therefromand lift means connected to said link for vertically moving the latterto selected positions, said link having a forwardly opening recesstherein adapted to receive a hitch element on the implement fortransmitting draft thereto, a member pivoted on said draft link having arearwardly opening recess therein above the recess in said link in thenormal operating position of said member and terminating in an abuttingwall engageable by said element upon backing the tractor to theimplement, said member being swingable downwardly relative to said linkto a position with said recesses in substantially horizontal alignmentand in communication whereby said implement is shifted to the recess inthe draft link upon forward movement of the tractor, means biasing saidmember to return to its normal operating position, and locking meanseffective upon return of said member to its normal operating position toretain the hitch element in the recess in said draft link.

3. An implement attaching apparatus for a tractor including a draft linkpivotally connected to the tractor and extending rearwardly therefromand lift means conp nected to said link for vertically moving the latterto selected positions, said link having a forwardly opening recesstherein adapted to receive a hitch element on the implement fortransmitting draft thereto, a member pivoted on said draft link having arearwardly opening recess therein above the recess in said link in thenormal operating position of said member and terminating in an abuttingwall engageable by said element upon backing the tractor to theimplement, said member being swingable downf wardly relative to saidlink to a position with said recesses in substantially horizontalalignment and in communication whereby said element is shifted to therecess in the draft link upon forward movement of the tractor, meansbiasing said member to return to its normal operating position, andlocking means effective upon return of said member to its normaloperating position to retain the hitch element in the recess in saiddraft link comprising an extension on said member below the recesstherein adapted to block the entrance to the recess in said draft linkupon return of the member to its normal operating position.

4. Tractor hitch apparatus for the connection thereto of an implementhaving a transversely extending hitch element, comprising a hook havinga forwardly entrant recess, a latch member pivotally mounted on the hookand having a rearwardly entrant recess portion and a locking portion,means biasing the latch member to a position with said locking portioncovering the recess in Y said hook, the recess in said latch memberbeing adapted to receive said implement hitch element and said latchmember being pivotable generally vertically relative to said hookagainst the bias of said biasing means to a position with said recess'inthe latch member in sub` stantially horizontal alignment and incommunication with the recess in said hook, said hitch element beingshiftable longitudinally into the recess in said hook when forwardmotion is imparted to the tractor and said latch 6. The invention setforth in claim 4, wherein a stop member being biased to return to aposition with said is provided on the latch member engageable with thelocking portion covering the recess in said hook to hold hook to limitthe pivoting of said latch member. sald hitch element againstdisplacement therefrom.. References Cmd in the me of this patent 5. Themventlon set forth 1n claim 4, wherein the 5 locking portion of saidlatch member is engageable with UNITED STATES PATENTS the forwardsurface of said hitch element to hold it in 1,635,659 Clement July 12,1927 the recess in said hook and has a curved surface forming 2,375,970Williams May 15, 1945 an arc whose axis is the pivotal connection of thelatch 2,673,507 Sawyer Mar. 30, 1954 member to the hook. 10 2,691,932Sawyer et al. Oct. 19, 1954

